News & Media

SXM Airport on CNN.com

SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten (Tuesday, November 24, 2015) - The Princess Juliana International Airport, SXM, was highlighted in a report that appeared on edition.cnn.com on Monday, November 16, 2015.

The story, written by Milena Veselinovic and titled “Touring the Caribbean’s most dramatic landing strips,” begins thus: “Thrill-seeking aviation buffs with deep pockets might soon get a chance to embark on a trip of their dreams.

“PrivateFly, a global booking service for private jet charter, has launched a travel itinerary that takes passengers on a tour of the Caribbean’s most dramatic landing strips.”

“For $72,000 per person, plane enthusiasts can enjoy the part-scenic-part-terrifying landings at St. Maarten, St. Barths and Saba, nicknamed roller-coaster runways for their challenging approaches.”

The article quotes Adam Twidell, PrivateFly CEO and former UK Royal Air Force pilot, as saying, “I have been lucky enough to land at all three as a passenger, experiences I’ll never forget.”

Twidell was among the group of international aviation journalists who took part in a media tour earlier this year organized by SXM Airport.

The CNN story continues: “The first of the three stops, chosen by travelers in a PrivateFly poll, is the island of St. Maarten.

“Planes that descend over the resort’s popular Maho beach on their final approach to the airport look like they are about to scrape vacationers’ heads.”

“You're so low you can almost read the sunbathers’ newspapers below,” says Twidell.

According to the CNN report, “In recent years the landings have become a tourist draw, with crowds gathering for scheduled arrivals of large jetliners thundering by only a few meters above.”

A multitude of articles in various international publications resulted from the media tour, which also focused attention on St. Maarten’s hub partners, St. Martin, Saba, St. Barths, Anguilla, and Dominica.